Incident Name: Smith Prairie smokejumper proficiency training jump fatality
Date: 9/27/13. 1230 hrs
Personnel: Mark T Urban
Age: 40
Agency/Organization: Bureau of Land Management, Great Basin SJ
Position: Boise Smoke Jumper
Summary: Mark Urban, a 10-year, seasoned Boise BLM smokejumper and parachute instructor, with more than 300 jumps under his belt, died on 9/27/13 from injuries sustained in a routine parachute training accident near the town of Prairie, 45 mi east of Boise. A Serious Accident Investigation team is investigating.
Tribute from Jason Granger on Mark’s Facebook page: Mark was a irreplaceable asset in the development of the Rough Terrain Parachute Training program for the United States Special Operations Command. He spent many hours training and mentoring Special Operators in and around Boise, ID. Thank you for your dedication and service Mark! Rest In Peace Brother!
Smith Prairie Airport, Prairie, ID, 45 mi east of Boise
USNG: 11T NJ 6386 2409
{mosmap lat=’43.497565’|lon=’-115.547643’|marker=’0’|text=’Smith Prairie Airport’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- BLM: 24-hour report
- BLM: 72-hour report
- Final Factual Accident Investigation Report: Smith Prairie Smokejumper Fatality (large 111 pages, 13.9 MB)
Wildlandfire.com Links:
- They-said-it: 9/27/2013
- Hotlist: 9/27/2013 BLM Smokejumper Fatality – Mark Urban
Media Articles and Reports
- Boise Smokejumper involved in deadly accident9/27/13 | Online Article
BOISE — A Boise BLM smokejumper died on Friday, in a parachuting accident near the town of Prairie. The National Interagency Fire Center said it was related to some sort of failure with his parachute system, but they don’t yet know exactly what the problem was. 40-year-old Mark Urban of Boise worked at the Great Basin Smokejumper Base in Boise. The accident was reported near Prairie, about 45 miles east of Boise. (More at the link…)
- Boisie BLM Smokejumper killed in accident9/28/2013 | Online Article (no longer online)
A Boise BLM smokejumper died Friday afternoon in a training accident near Prairie, about 45 miles east of Boise. Mark T. Urban, 40, was killed after his parachute failed to properly deploy during a training jump. A serious accident investigation team is being assembled in Boise and will begin their work… (More at the link…)
- Hundreds gather to remember fallen Idaho smokejumper10/4/2014 | Online Article with photos
BOISE — One week after a tragic smoke jumping accident, a Boise hero was honored and remembered. Hundreds gathered Friday to celebrate the life of one of the area’s leading smokejumpers, Mark Urban, who died in the line of duty. The processional down Fairview Avenue was the first glimpse at how much Urban meant to so many. Dozens of fire trucks, and ambulances, all lined up to escort Urban’s friends and family from his funeral to his memorial service. The somber service was held just outside the National Interagency Fire Center. (More at the link…)
- Photo Gallery of Mark Urban’s Memorial
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- Mark leaves behind a wife, Rebecca, in Boise. He also leaves behind a sister and his parents live back East. Mark was originally from East Longmeadow, MA.
- USFA Memorial Database: Mark T Urban
- Memorial Service for Mark Urban Friday Oct. 4th, 2PM at NIFC in Boise
- Make a donation to get Mark’s family and friends to the memorial via the National Smokejumper Association Store. Add a note “for Mark Urban fund” in the comments section.
- The Wildland Firefighter Foundation is also requesting that air miles be donated so the wildland firefighting community can help get Mark’s friends to Boise to be with his family and jumper family.Call, text, or email the following:
Your name
Your phone number
Your airline
Your amount of points
Also any hotels points - Mark’s Facebook page: “Remembering Smokejumper Mark Urban BLM”(no longer online) Photo Credits: Amy Sampson, taken on the Klamath River, 2008; Karen Lynne Hammond, taken New Years 2011
Contributors to this article: smokejumpers
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